Are hobbits vegetarian ?

friendoftheshire · 01-13-2002, 01:12 AM

Except for the time when Sam cooked rabbit stew in Two towers, hobbits seems to be vegetarian. They seem to eat plenty of vegetables - i.e. carrots, mushrooms etc..

Does anybody know of a resource that documents hobbit's diet ?
Or any other instances in the trilogy + the hobbit where they eat meat ?

Thanks

FriendOfTheShire

Renille · 01-13-2002, 01:21 AM

I wish they were...but no. They talk about eggs and bacon in "The Hobbit," and more bacon with Farmer Maggot's mushrooms in the Farmer Maggot chapter. (Whichever that one was

) Your question leads me to MY question...are elves vegetarian? They don't seem to eat all that much...in fact, I only remember lembas mentioned in regards to food. (Yes, I know elves eat other things than that...but that's all I remember except for the feast at Rivendell. And that didn't tell specifics."

Ñólendil · 01-13-2002, 03:46 AM

One need look no further than the cooked rabbit you mentioned, shirefriend.

luinilwen · 01-13-2002, 04:02 AM

as far as hobbits are concerned, they probably ate less meat then us (they can't very well walk into a supermarket, can they?) which in fact is healthier for you, however in LOTR they will have less opportunities to eat meat as they are travelling and meat doesn't keep very well, and hunting takes a lot of time (as mentioned by Aragorn!)

as for elves, they do eat other things but i should think that they probably are vegetarians. i can't see elves slaying and eating animals. in FOTR when they feast with Gildor (sounds like a country rather than a person hmm...) Frodo mentions eating wildberries and lovely bread and nourishing draughts etc. elves eat more then lembas , for their waybread is designed mostly for travel (or so i would assume).

Lightice · 01-13-2002, 06:46 AM

If I remember correctly, in Hobbit, the Elven King loved hunting, and I might guess, that they ate those deers too. Otherwice it would had been even more cruel...
Ofcourse wood elves were "less civilized" than their Rivendell cousins.
I've gotten the idea, that elves really don't need food or sleep, but they do get energy from lembas and that wake-slumber they go sometimes.
Hobbits definately ate meat. There's mention of butcher at Hobbit, plus rabbit-scene at LotR. Sam also mentioned fish in that scene.
But I wonder what dwarves ate...
They lived mostly underground, so they had to pick from rats, bats and mushrooms, it seems, if they didn't have trading partners, as it seemed to be at mines of Blue Mountains.

afro-elf · 01-13-2002, 06:57 AM

Elves do hunt. Check out the SIL. I agree with Inoldonil. That it would seem they ate them too.

luinilwen · 01-13-2002, 09:04 AM

lightice: thanks for jogging my memory (it hates exercise)

kennebecc · 01-13-2002, 10:45 AM

In the past few months, I have been reading the Hobbit to four different school classes. I can assure you that Hobbits and Dwarves eat meat, you need only skim through the Flies and Spiders chapter of the Hobbit. The dwarves and Bilbo try to eat a squirrel, and actually shoot a deer that jumps into their path. The Dwarves also seem to have a fondness for eating mutton, which they share with Bilbo during that whole three trolls in the woods scene. The only time that they do not appear to eat meat, is when they are visiting in the house of Beorn.

bropous · 01-13-2002, 12:33 PM

afro-elf and lightice are [not surprisingly, judging from their prior posts] absolutely correct. Hobbits eat meat, as do Elves. In the Silmarillion, even the Noldor go a-hunting from time to time. They are certainly of an ethical quality which would not kill an animal for no reason, they EATS 'em. Also, they are skilled tanners, as the boats they got from the Galadhrim have "skins" for covers.

As for the assertion that eating less meat is a healthier diet, I must politely disagree. I haven't seen a true "vegetarian" or "Vegan" who doesn't look like a recovering death-camp victim, sallow and pale. We gots incisors and cuspids and bicuspids for a reason, that is, the rending and tearing of flesh. We gots molars for the grinding of vegetable matter. We is omnivores, that's how we developed, and that's what our bodies are set to.

Hmmmm.....reminds me.....what variety of tasty animal will I break my fast upon this morn....

Top it off with a few selections of vegetable matter.....and a little bovine lactation products.....yum yum!

Kevin McIntyre · 01-13-2002, 02:24 PM

Eating less meat, does not mean eating no meat at all.

FrodoFriend · 01-13-2002, 03:27 PM

Hey, wait a minute! I'm a true vegetarian and I can assure you, I DON'T look like a recovering death-camp victim. And I know at least 4 other vegetarians who are also in the bloom of health. I don't think eating meat makes much of a difference health-wise either way (at least it hasn't for me), as long as you get enough protein from yogurt & such.

Menelvagor · 01-13-2002, 03:32 PM

I agree with FrodoFriend, I'm a vegetarian and I'm not about to keel over. I do know what you mean though, I have seen some people like that, but most vegetarians I know are in perfect health.

bropous · 01-13-2002, 03:56 PM

I think at this point I'll just politely muzzle myself with a pork chop and respectfully retreat to my corner...

afro-elf · 01-13-2002, 08:19 PM

It

Quote:

may

have to do with what kind of Vegetarian you are.

There are Vegans, Lacto-vegetarians, ovario-vegetarians etc.

bropous · 01-13-2002, 09:15 PM

*gnawing on pork chop bone*

Maybe it was Vegans I was thinkin' of.....

*gnaw gnaw gnaw gnaw*

luinilwen · 01-13-2002, 09:41 PM

bropous, you are at least partially right. yes we do have the chewing gear for meat, because meat is a good way to get important things in our diet ie. protien and iron. however the point i was making is that THESE DAYS people eat far too much meat (bacon for brekky, meat pie for lunch, huge servings of meat for dinner, etc) when we really only need one small serve of meat a day. however when meat is adequately supplimented by other foods, vegetarians can be healthy (but i've never seen a vegan who didn't look anorexic

sorry if you're a healthy looking vegan)

bropous · 01-13-2002, 10:16 PM

LOL, ain't ever set my teeth to a "meat pie" in all me born days! gotta admit the very name puts me off...

I dunno here. I say, folks eat what you like, we just shouldn't lecture to others what to eat....and sorry I laid into the vegetarians in prior posts.... everyone has the right to eat what they choose.....except humans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

luinilwen · 01-13-2002, 10:40 PM

i don't think humans would taste too good... hmmm kentucky fried human... blech

ragamuffin92 · 01-13-2002, 11:17 PM

Gee, THANKS, Luinilwen -- I just finished my supper!! Man flesh is ORC FOOD (and probably Smeagol food, too, gollum, gollum)

bropous · 01-14-2002, 12:19 AM

Well, Gollum ate babies...mention of "snatching from cradles" in Mirkwood....

01-13-2002, 01:12 AM	#1
friendoftheshire Sapling Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 4	Are hobbits vegetarian ? Except for the time when Sam cooked rabbit stew in Two towers, hobbits seems to be vegetarian. They seem to eat plenty of vegetables - i.e. carrots, mushrooms etc.. Does anybody know of a resource that documents hobbit's diet ? Or any other instances in the trilogy + the hobbit where they eat meat ? Thanks FriendOfTheShire

01-13-2002, 01:21 AM	#2
Renille Elven Lady of Speed-posting Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the cheese state Posts: 988	I wish they were...but no. They talk about eggs and bacon in "The Hobbit," and more bacon with Farmer Maggot's mushrooms in the Farmer Maggot chapter. (Whichever that one was ) Your question leads me to MY question...are elves vegetarian? They don't seem to eat all that much...in fact, I only remember lembas mentioned in regards to food. (Yes, I know elves eat other things than that...but that's all I remember except for the feast at Rivendell. And that didn't tell specifics." __________________ Oh the thinks you can think! Think and wonder and dream...far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there's another world there... (from Seussical the Musical. Listen to it...watch it...really.)

01-13-2002, 03:46 AM	#3
Ñólendil Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: California Posts: 60,865	One need look no further than the cooked rabbit you mentioned, shirefriend. __________________ Falmon -- Dylan

01-13-2002, 06:57 AM	#6
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	Elves do hunt. Check out the SIL. I agree with Inoldonil. That it would seem they ate them too. __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

01-13-2002, 10:45 AM	#8
kennebecc Hobbit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: US Posts: 35	Dwarves and Hobbits In the past few months, I have been reading the Hobbit to four different school classes. I can assure you that Hobbits and Dwarves eat meat, you need only skim through the Flies and Spiders chapter of the Hobbit. The dwarves and Bilbo try to eat a squirrel, and actually shoot a deer that jumps into their path. The Dwarves also seem to have a fondness for eating mutton, which they share with Bilbo during that whole three trolls in the woods scene. The only time that they do not appear to eat meat, is when they are visiting in the house of Beorn. Last edited by kennebecc : 01-13-2002 at 10:50 AM.

01-13-2002, 04:02 AM	#4
luinilwen Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sydney AUSTRALIA Posts: 368	as far as hobbits are concerned, they probably ate less meat then us (they can't very well walk into a supermarket, can they?) which in fact is healthier for you, however in LOTR they will have less opportunities to eat meat as they are travelling and meat doesn't keep very well, and hunting takes a lot of time (as mentioned by Aragorn!) as for elves, they do eat other things but i should think that they probably are vegetarians. i can't see elves slaying and eating animals. in FOTR when they feast with Gildor (sounds like a country rather than a person hmm...) Frodo mentions eating wildberries and lovely bread and nourishing draughts etc. elves eat more then lembas , for their waybread is designed mostly for travel (or so i would assume).

01-13-2002, 06:46 AM	#5
Lightice Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 192	If I remember correctly, in Hobbit, the Elven King loved hunting, and I might guess, that they ate those deers too. Otherwice it would had been even more cruel... Ofcourse wood elves were "less civilized" than their Rivendell cousins. I've gotten the idea, that elves really don't need food or sleep, but they do get energy from lembas and that wake-slumber they go sometimes. Hobbits definately ate meat. There's mention of butcher at Hobbit, plus rabbit-scene at LotR. Sam also mentioned fish in that scene. But I wonder what dwarves ate... They lived mostly underground, so they had to pick from rats, bats and mushrooms, it seems, if they didn't have trading partners, as it seemed to be at mines of Blue Mountains.

01-13-2002, 09:04 AM	#7
luinilwen Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sydney AUSTRALIA Posts: 368	lightice: thanks for jogging my memory (it hates exercise)

01-13-2002, 12:33 PM	#9
bropous EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMED DCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 1,176	afro-elf and lightice are [not surprisingly, judging from their prior posts] absolutely correct. Hobbits eat meat, as do Elves. In the Silmarillion, even the Noldor go a-hunting from time to time. They are certainly of an ethical quality which would not kill an animal for no reason, they EATS 'em. Also, they are skilled tanners, as the boats they got from the Galadhrim have "skins" for covers. As for the assertion that eating less meat is a healthier diet, I must politely disagree. I haven't seen a true "vegetarian" or "Vegan" who doesn't look like a recovering death-camp victim, sallow and pale. We gots incisors and cuspids and bicuspids for a reason, that is, the rending and tearing of flesh. We gots molars for the grinding of vegetable matter. We is omnivores, that's how we developed, and that's what our bodies are set to. Hmmmm.....reminds me.....what variety of tasty animal will I break my fast upon this morn.... Top it off with a few selections of vegetable matter.....and a little bovine lactation products.....yum yum! __________________ "...[The Lord of the Rings] is to exemplify most clearly a recurrent theme: the place in 'world politics' of the unforeseen and unforeseeable acts of will, and deeds of virtue of the apparently small, ungreat, fogotten in the places of the Wise and Great (good as well as evil). A moral of the whole (after the primary symbolism of the Ring, as the will to mere power, seeking to make itself objective by physical force and mechanism, and so also inevitably by lies) is the obvious one that without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless." Letters of JRR Tolkien, page 160.

01-13-2002, 02:24 PM	#10
Kevin McIntyre Elven Warrior Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Bree Posts: 148	Eating less meat, does not mean eating no meat at all.

01-13-2002, 03:27 PM	#11
FrodoFriend Halfwitted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Eryn Vorn Posts: 1,659	Hey, wait a minute! I'm a true vegetarian and I can assure you, I DON'T look like a recovering death-camp victim. And I know at least 4 other vegetarians who are also in the bloom of health. I don't think eating meat makes much of a difference health-wise either way (at least it hasn't for me), as long as you get enough protein from yogurt & such. __________________ Fingolfin lives! ... in my finger! The Crossroads of Arda - Warning. Halfwit content. Not appropriate for people with IQ of over 18. The Fellowship of the Message Board Nyáréonié - The Tale of Tears

01-13-2002, 03:32 PM	#12
Menelvagor Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: lurking on the edge of conversations Posts: 924	I agree with FrodoFriend, I'm a vegetarian and I'm not about to keel over. I do know what you mean though, I have seen some people like that, but most vegetarians I know are in perfect health.

01-13-2002, 03:56 PM	#13
bropous EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMED DCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 1,176	I think at this point I'll just politely muzzle myself with a pork chop and respectfully retreat to my corner... __________________ "...[The Lord of the Rings] is to exemplify most clearly a recurrent theme: the place in 'world politics' of the unforeseen and unforeseeable acts of will, and deeds of virtue of the apparently small, ungreat, fogotten in the places of the Wise and Great (good as well as evil). A moral of the whole (after the primary symbolism of the Ring, as the will to mere power, seeking to make itself objective by physical force and mechanism, and so also inevitably by lies) is the obvious one that without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless." Letters of JRR Tolkien, page 160.

01-13-2002, 09:15 PM	#15
bropous EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMED DCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 1,176	gnawing on pork chop bone Maybe it was Vegans I was thinkin' of..... gnaw gnaw gnaw gnaw __________________ "...[The Lord of the Rings] is to exemplify most clearly a recurrent theme: the place in 'world politics' of the unforeseen and unforeseeable acts of will, and deeds of virtue of the apparently small, ungreat, fogotten in the places of the Wise and Great (good as well as evil). A moral of the whole (after the primary symbolism of the Ring, as the will to mere power, seeking to make itself objective by physical force and mechanism, and so also inevitably by lies) is the obvious one that without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless." Letters of JRR Tolkien, page 160.

01-13-2002, 09:41 PM	#16
luinilwen Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sydney AUSTRALIA Posts: 368	bropous, you are at least partially right. yes we do have the chewing gear for meat, because meat is a good way to get important things in our diet ie. protien and iron. however the point i was making is that THESE DAYS people eat far too much meat (bacon for brekky, meat pie for lunch, huge servings of meat for dinner, etc) when we really only need one small serve of meat a day. however when meat is adequately supplimented by other foods, vegetarians can be healthy (but i've never seen a vegan who didn't look anorexic sorry if you're a healthy looking vegan)

01-13-2002, 10:16 PM	#17
bropous EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMED DCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 1,176	LOL, ain't ever set my teeth to a "meat pie" in all me born days! gotta admit the very name puts me off... I dunno here. I say, folks eat what you like, we just shouldn't lecture to others what to eat....and sorry I laid into the vegetarians in prior posts.... everyone has the right to eat what they choose.....except humans!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ "...[The Lord of the Rings] is to exemplify most clearly a recurrent theme: the place in 'world politics' of the unforeseen and unforeseeable acts of will, and deeds of virtue of the apparently small, ungreat, fogotten in the places of the Wise and Great (good as well as evil). A moral of the whole (after the primary symbolism of the Ring, as the will to mere power, seeking to make itself objective by physical force and mechanism, and so also inevitably by lies) is the obvious one that without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless." Letters of JRR Tolkien, page 160.

01-13-2002, 10:40 PM	#18
luinilwen Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sydney AUSTRALIA Posts: 368	i don't think humans would taste too good... hmmm kentucky fried human... blech

01-13-2002, 11:17 PM	#19
ragamuffin92 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York State Posts: 309	Gee, THANKS, Luinilwen -- I just finished my supper!! Man flesh is ORC FOOD (and probably Smeagol food, too, gollum, gollum)

01-14-2002, 12:19 AM	#20
bropous EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMED DCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 1,176	Well, Gollum ate babies...mention of "snatching from cradles" in Mirkwood.... __________________ "...[The Lord of the Rings] is to exemplify most clearly a recurrent theme: the place in 'world politics' of the unforeseen and unforeseeable acts of will, and deeds of virtue of the apparently small, ungreat, fogotten in the places of the Wise and Great (good as well as evil). A moral of the whole (after the primary symbolism of the Ring, as the will to mere power, seeking to make itself objective by physical force and mechanism, and so also inevitably by lies) is the obvious one that without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless." Letters of JRR Tolkien, page 160.

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